Archive for August 15th, 2006

I love that expression! It reminds me of my Mum, she would say it to me when she came to visit me in Yorkshire where we managed a Country House Hotel in the Dales with my Dad. (No he didn’t help manage it, he just came along with Mum! Confused?)

They would arrive every Sunday, like clockwork, just before Afternoon Tea was being served 😉 to the 70 or so guests and would have their own little selection of homemade biscuits, fruit cake, jam and cream scones and a large pot of tea. Mmm! They always sat in one particular lounge, in the same two armchairs overlooking the croquet lawn. We would chat about anything which may have happened in my home town and catch up on the news of my brothers and sisters (I’m one of eight, so there was always a bit of gossip. Even more so on the wives of my brothers!)

The open fire would be blazing away on colder days and I would give them a rendition of Les Dawsons piano-playing if they cleared their plates!

We would then take a walk around the grounds, if Dads creaky, gangly legs could manage it.

On leaving, Dad would always ask “Are you alright for money? Are you being paid well?Do youhave money in the bank? Are you saving any?” Not being nosey, just making sure we always had a bit lot put away. We always did have money in the bank anyway, still do, for a rainy day. Then he would try to convince me that I would have to be a millionare to live like we did!

All this would happen in exactly one hour! Then Dad would put his cap on and we knew then it was time for them to leave. Dad had a few tell-tale signs like this. Once, I remember an ex-boyfriend of mine had outstayed his welcome, Dad walked into the lounge and wound up the clock on the mantelpiece….

So that was that till the following Sunday, me n’ im would then serve Afternoon Tea and go to our cozy cottage, kick off our shoes, lie on the sofa, watch Antiques Roadshow and breathe a huge sigh of relief!

And so this went on for five and a half years and I wouldn’t change a thing.